15 WWE Pushes That IMMEDIATELY Backfired
1. Scott Steiner (2002-2003)
“Gimme the f’n mic!”.
One line from a fired up Scott Steiner was all it took to let everyone know that 'Big Poppa Pump' had arrived in WWE. His work towards the end of WCW's lifespan was thumping, urgent and dangerous (in a good way), and it's a shame that the company was on the way out. So, following his fabulously intense debut at the 2002 Survivor Series, it looked like Scotty would continue his excellence on a grander stage.
Steiner was a hot ticket straight away, but his physique and presentation masked injury troubles that’d be laid bare in back to back stinkers vs. Triple H at Royal Rumble and No Way Out 2003. Unfortunately for Scotty, this was also the same period of time when Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit were working scorchers for the other top belt over on SmackDown’s side. That only made his bouts with Hunter look even worse.
They were truly rotten. Steiner was having trouble with one of his feet due to a lingering health issue, and he was never 100% throughout his stint as a main eventer. It felt like a sick joke that he'd been one of wrestling's most dynamic workers for a generation, but couldn't live up to his own hype now he finally had a physique Vince McMahon would pay attention to. That sucks!
WWE didn't get the 'Big Booty Daddy' who had ruled latter day WCW. They got a broken version of that guy, one who was never going to look worthy during a poor section of Triple H's career (he wasn't moving freely himself) whilst super-workers like Angle and Benoit produced classics.
What other WWE pushes backfired spectacularly? For more like this, check out 10 WWE Name Changes That IMMEDIATELY Backfired and 12 Misconceptions About WCW You Probably Believe!